Troubleshooting Windows for Workgroups Interoperability

ID: Q100011

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11
There are several issues that need to be addressed in order to ensure smooth interoperability between Windows NT and Windows for Workgroups. When setting up your network, note the following three issues:

Browsemaster Conflicts

Browsemaster contentions can occur between Windows for Workgroups workstations and Windows NT workstations when a workgroup or domain contains at least one machine of each type. You may have difficulty seeing servers in a Windows NT network from a Windows for Workgroups workstation if the workstation is a backup browsemaster and not registered in the Windows NT network. To work around this problem, do the following:

  • Make sure there is a guest account enabled in the Windows NT domain.


    • -or-

  • Add the following line to the [network] section of the SYSTEM.INI files in all Windows for Workgroups machines on the network:
    MaintainServerList=no
    This workaround stops all Windows for Workgroups workstations from trying to be browsemasters. If you use this workaround, you need to ensure that at least one Windows NT machine (workstation or server) in the workgroup or domain is running at all times. Until a Windows NT machine is running or a user changes the value of the MaintainServerList variable to "auto" and reboots, no browsing can occur (you receive error 6118).


    • -or-

  • Log on to the domain or workgroup with a valid account (even a guest account works).


Guest Accounts

Guest accounts should remain enabled on domain controllers. Instead of removing guest accounts to restrict access to certain services, simply remove any of the undesired or all of the guest account rights in User Manager.

User Name Duplication

There should not be user name duplicates on different domains. If a user name is duplicated across different domains, there will be inconsistent results when a logon is attempted from a Windows for Workgroups workstation on that Windows NT network.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbinterop NTInterop
Version : WinNT:3.5,3.51,4.0;Windows:3.1,3.11
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: September 24, 1999
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